expire

verb

ex·​pire ik-ˈspī(-ə)r 

usually for intransitive sense 3 and transitive sense 2 ek-

expired; expiring

intransitive verb

1

: to breathe one's last breath : die

2

: to come to an end: such as

a

: to exceed its period of validity

The contract will expire next month.

b

: to pass its expiration date (see expiration date sense 2)

This milk has expired.

" … when drugs expire, you can't just leave these things lying around."

—Ed Haislmaier

3

: to emit the breath

transitive verb

1

obsolete : conclude

2

: to breathe out from or as if from the lungs

3

archaic : emit

Synonyms of expire

• end
• cease
• stop
• conclude
• halt
• terminate
• pass
• die

Examples of expire in a Sentence

My driver's license has expired.

She expired after a long illness.

measuring the volume of air expired from the lungs

Recent Examples on the Web

The initial temporary restraining order was to expire Friday. —Arkansas Online, 24 Jan. 2026

Earlier this week, it was reported by SPORT and MD how Barca has decided on Julian Alvarez as the successor to aging striker Robert Lewandowski, whose contract expires on June 30. —Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026

Rodman entered 2026 without a contract, as her previous deal had expired at the end of last season, leading to speculation of a move to Europe. —Damian Calhoun, Daily News, 23 Jan. 2026

The union’s contract expired in June. —Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Anglo-French espirer to breathe out, from Latin exspirare, from ex- + spirare to breathe

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Rhymes for expire

• admire
• afire
• aspire
• backfire
• esquire
• haywire
• hellfire
• inquire
• inspire
• newswire
• perspire
• rehire

Kids Definition

expire

verb

ex·​pire ik-ˈspī(ə)r 

usually for sense 3 ek-

expired; expiring

1

: to breathe one's last breath : die

2

: to come to an end : be no longer in force

this offer expires March 1

my driver's license has expired

3

a

: to let the breath out

b

: to breathe out from or as if from the lungs

Medical Definition

expire

verb

ex·​pire

ik-ˈspī(ə)r, usually for vi 2 and vt ek-

expired; expiring

intransitive verb

1

: to breathe one's last breath : die

2

: to emit the breath

transitive verb

: to breathe out from or as if from the lungs

the basal metabolism test … measures the amount of carbon dioxide expired by the lungs

—J. D. Ratcliff